Echo staff scoop prestigious press awards

Staff from the paper won two awards at the Regional Press Awards and were highly commended in another.

Investigations reporter Jon Austin was named specialist writer of the year for his exposes of tenants living in squalor in Westcliff, the secret life of former Basildon mayor consort John Handley, and his fraud probe into a luxury holiday home firm.

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He was also highly commended in the scoop of the year category for his story about John Handley.

Meanwhile Sadie Hasler was named columnist of the year. Judges praised her for not shying away from difficult subjects.

Sometimes the sources of stories, particularly political ones, leave a lot to be desired. The Basildon Labour group, who have their strings pulled from the House of Lords, are particularly good at dredging up cr@p about people - oh and one of them even set himself up as a "reporter" to do some dirt digging. You know who you are. Thing is, doing that always invokes Karma because one day that will come back. Certain elements of Basildon Labour have their agenda and contacts on local papers - and have been seen socialising with them. You know who you are. Let's remember the saying "never let the truth get in the way of a good story". In other words, don't believe everything you read in the papers - things are not always what they seem. You know who you are. Just one more thing - "consort" - John Handley was never a consort. He never held an official public office. No public money was ever involved. Again, all a witch hunt. Look around now at the pre election witch hunt which is in full swing. Lies lies and more lies in the Labour leaflets, character assassinations, untruths and half truths. Even some of the Tories are at it. They're all scared of UKIP and with good reason from what I've witnessed. I have seen it all. There are screencaps and even leaflets that have been distributed full of lies. Also some electoral laws have been blatantly broken. All is widely available to all and sundry. It's all over the place. And then there's the doorstep bullying. But none of it has been reported in the local papers. Funny that. Some of the stuff I have seen has been TRULY award winning. And this time it's actually true and NOT hearsay and conjecture and surmise. Or smear. But as I said above, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Sometimes the sources of stories, particularly political ones, leave a lot to be desired.
The Basildon Labour group, who have their strings pulled from the House of Lords, are particularly good at dredging up cr@p about people - oh and one of them even set himself up as a "reporter" to do some dirt digging.
You know who you are.
Thing is, doing that always invokes Karma because one day that will come back.
Certain elements of Basildon Labour have their agenda and contacts on local papers - and have been seen socialising with them.
You know who you are.
Let's remember the saying "never let the truth get in the way of a good story".
In other words, don't believe everything you read in the papers - things are not always what they seem.
You know who you are.
Just one more thing - "consort" - John Handley was never a consort. He never held an official public office. No public money was ever involved.
Again, all a witch hunt.
Look around now at the pre election witch hunt which is in full swing.
Lies lies and more lies in the Labour leaflets, character assassinations, untruths and half truths. Even some of the Tories are at it. They're all scared of UKIP and with good reason from what I've witnessed.
I have seen it all. There are screencaps and even leaflets that have been distributed full of lies. Also some electoral laws have been blatantly broken.
All is widely available to all and sundry. It's all over the place. And then there's the doorstep bullying.
But none of it has been reported in the local papers.
Funny that.
Some of the stuff I have seen has been TRULY award winning. And this time it's actually true and NOT hearsay and conjecture and surmise. Or smear.
But as I said above, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.Kim Gandy

Sometimes the sources of stories, particularly political ones, leave a lot to be desired. The Basildon Labour group, who have their strings pulled from the House of Lords, are particularly good at dredging up cr@p about people - oh and one of them even set himself up as a "reporter" to do some dirt digging. You know who you are. Thing is, doing that always invokes Karma because one day that will come back. Certain elements of Basildon Labour have their agenda and contacts on local papers - and have been seen socialising with them. You know who you are. Let's remember the saying "never let the truth get in the way of a good story". In other words, don't believe everything you read in the papers - things are not always what they seem. You know who you are. Just one more thing - "consort" - John Handley was never a consort. He never held an official public office. No public money was ever involved. Again, all a witch hunt. Look around now at the pre election witch hunt which is in full swing. Lies lies and more lies in the Labour leaflets, character assassinations, untruths and half truths. Even some of the Tories are at it. They're all scared of UKIP and with good reason from what I've witnessed. I have seen it all. There are screencaps and even leaflets that have been distributed full of lies. Also some electoral laws have been blatantly broken. All is widely available to all and sundry. It's all over the place. And then there's the doorstep bullying. But none of it has been reported in the local papers. Funny that. Some of the stuff I have seen has been TRULY award winning. And this time it's actually true and NOT hearsay and conjecture and surmise. Or smear. But as I said above, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Score: -4

Kim Gandy says...4:35pm Sun 18 May 14

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?

Could you direct me to the link please on that story?

[quote][p][bold]Maya Pinnion[/bold] wrote:
Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?[/p][/quote]Could you direct me to the link please on that story?Kim Gandy

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?

Could you direct me to the link please on that story?

Score: -2

Kim Gandy says...5:04pm Sun 18 May 14

Nebs wrote…

supermadmax wrote…

Well done, great news!

Jon Austin goes where others fear to tread.

So do the Labour group... and it often involves brown sticky stuff. You know who you are too.

[quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]supermadmax[/bold] wrote:
Well done, great news![/p][/quote]Jon Austin goes where others fear to tread.[/p][/quote]So do the Labour group...
and it often involves brown sticky stuff.
You know who you are too.Kim Gandy

Nebs wrote…

supermadmax wrote…

Well done, great news!

Jon Austin goes where others fear to tread.

So do the Labour group... and it often involves brown sticky stuff. You know who you are too.

Score: -3

Maya Pinnion says...6:12pm Sun 18 May 14

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?

Could you direct me to the link please on that story?

They know who they are

[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Maya Pinnion[/bold] wrote:
Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?[/p][/quote]Could you direct me to the link please on that story?[/p][/quote]They know who they areMaya Pinnion

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?

Could you direct me to the link please on that story?

They know who they are

Score: 0

Kim Gandy says...6:36pm Sun 18 May 14

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?

Could you direct me to the link please on that story?

They know who they are

Ah I see. Well obviously no story at all then.

[quote][p][bold]Maya Pinnion[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Maya Pinnion[/bold] wrote:
Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?[/p][/quote]Could you direct me to the link please on that story?[/p][/quote]They know who they are[/p][/quote]Ah I see. Well obviously no story at all then.Kim Gandy

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?

Could you direct me to the link please on that story?

They know who they are

Ah I see. Well obviously no story at all then.

Score: -3

Maya Pinnion says...7:14pm Sun 18 May 14

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?

Could you direct me to the link please on that story?

They know who they are

Ah I see. Well obviously no story at all then.

You are a fool, why on earth would I ask such a question if it wasn't pertinent? Why do you want the link anyway?

[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Maya Pinnion[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Maya Pinnion[/bold] wrote:
Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?[/p][/quote]Could you direct me to the link please on that story?[/p][/quote]They know who they are[/p][/quote]Ah I see. Well obviously no story at all then.[/p][/quote]You are a fool, why on earth would I ask such a question if it wasn't pertinent? Why do you want the link anyway?Maya Pinnion

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?

Could you direct me to the link please on that story?

They know who they are

Ah I see. Well obviously no story at all then.

You are a fool, why on earth would I ask such a question if it wasn't pertinent? Why do you want the link anyway?

Score: 0

Kim Gandy says...7:34pm Sun 18 May 14

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?

Could you direct me to the link please on that story?

They know who they are

Ah I see. Well obviously no story at all then.

You are a fool, why on earth would I ask such a question if it wasn't pertinent? Why do you want the link anyway?

You are unbelievably rude. I was interested to read the story you were talking about that's all. It was a polite enquiry but obviously you have no manners. Just forget it. And as for fools, look in the mirror. Somebody asks you a civilised question and you can't give a civilised answer.

[quote][p][bold]Maya Pinnion[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Maya Pinnion[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Maya Pinnion[/bold] wrote:
Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?[/p][/quote]Could you direct me to the link please on that story?[/p][/quote]They know who they are[/p][/quote]Ah I see. Well obviously no story at all then.[/p][/quote]You are a fool, why on earth would I ask such a question if it wasn't pertinent? Why do you want the link anyway?[/p][/quote]You are unbelievably rude. I was interested to read the story you were talking about that's all. It was a polite enquiry but obviously you have no manners.
Just forget it.
And as for fools, look in the mirror.
Somebody asks you a civilised question and you can't give a civilised answer.Kim Gandy

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Kim Gandy wrote…

Maya Pinnion wrote…

Did anyone get an award for digging up 4 year old comments from an internet sledging site and then ask the public about it as though it was new ?

Could you direct me to the link please on that story?

They know who they are

Ah I see. Well obviously no story at all then.

You are a fool, why on earth would I ask such a question if it wasn't pertinent? Why do you want the link anyway?

You are unbelievably rude. I was interested to read the story you were talking about that's all. It was a polite enquiry but obviously you have no manners. Just forget it. And as for fools, look in the mirror. Somebody asks you a civilised question and you can't give a civilised answer.

Score: -5

Kim Gandy says...7:38pm Sun 18 May 14

What with the musclebound idiot Steroid whatsername on here today and this one above we only need one more - then we''ll have Act 1 Scene 1 Macbeth. Dear God, ask anybody a perfectly normal question on here, or make an innocent remark and the loonies come drooling out of the woodwork dragging their knuckles behind them. Or perhaps all this "global warming" is getting to their minuscule brains.

What with the musclebound idiot Steroid whatsername on here today and this one above we only need one more - then we''ll have Act 1 Scene 1 Macbeth.
Dear God, ask anybody a perfectly normal question on here, or make an innocent remark and the loonies come drooling out of the woodwork dragging their knuckles behind them.
Or perhaps all this "global warming" is getting to their minuscule brains.Kim Gandy

What with the musclebound idiot Steroid whatsername on here today and this one above we only need one more - then we''ll have Act 1 Scene 1 Macbeth. Dear God, ask anybody a perfectly normal question on here, or make an innocent remark and the loonies come drooling out of the woodwork dragging their knuckles behind them. Or perhaps all this "global warming" is getting to their minuscule brains.

Score: -4

ThisYear says...10:45pm Sun 18 May 14

Kim Gandy wrote…

What with the musclebound idiot Steroid whatsername on here today and this one above we only need one more - then we''ll have Act 1 Scene 1 Macbeth. Dear God, ask anybody a perfectly normal question on here, or make an innocent remark and the loonies come drooling out of the woodwork dragging their knuckles behind them. Or perhaps all this "global warming" is getting to their minuscule brains.

OR..perhaps its YOU..

[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
What with the musclebound idiot Steroid whatsername on here today and this one above we only need one more - then we''ll have Act 1 Scene 1 Macbeth.
Dear God, ask anybody a perfectly normal question on here, or make an innocent remark and the loonies come drooling out of the woodwork dragging their knuckles behind them.
Or perhaps all this "global warming" is getting to their minuscule brains.[/p][/quote]OR..perhaps its YOU..ThisYear

Kim Gandy wrote…

What with the musclebound idiot Steroid whatsername on here today and this one above we only need one more - then we''ll have Act 1 Scene 1 Macbeth. Dear God, ask anybody a perfectly normal question on here, or make an innocent remark and the loonies come drooling out of the woodwork dragging their knuckles behind them. Or perhaps all this "global warming" is getting to their minuscule brains.

Ipsoregulated

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